Andre Convents ^{Ultimate Decision-Maker}

Innovation Entrepreneur, Startup Co-founder & Investor at European Innovation Council

Current Job Duration: 9 yrs 11 mos (until March 2026)

HEADLINE:
Seasoned Innovator from hands-on to executive and board | Retired multi-decade P&G Innovation Director | Serial Startup Co-founder & Investor | Venture Capital committee Expert | Innovation policy + advocacy leader

PERSONAL SUMMARY:
After 35 years as passionate (open) innovation Director and intrapreneur at Procter & Gamble, I’ve graduated to extend my activities further at the intersection of corporates, startups, academia, venture capital and public innovation.
At P&G I co-created the Connect+Develop open innovation program and later built the InQbet accelerator, set up >100 public–private projects and co-founded innovation product launches from lab to market at scale in $ 20 Billion businesses. I led initiatives across technology, consumer insights, brand and ecosystem building.
In parallel, I have been an entrepreneur, investor and advisor by co-founding startups in e-health, mobility and food; serving on the PMV Series A investment committee and EIC Accelerator for close to a decade.
With a deep believe that innovation transforms societies, I contributed to European industry innovation policies by co-founding public private partnerships in industrial production, sustainability and biotechnology at regional and European scale. This included board and executive roles at industry associations, government boards and advocacy organizations.
Today I selectively take on roles where I can help:
• Hands-on co-found tech startups with potential of societal transformation
• Design and lead open innovation and multi-partner programs
• Support boards, founders and investment teams on technology, impact and execution
• Help the coalition of the willing to enable societal innovation at scale

Languages: Dutch, English

EDUCATION:
School: Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Chemistry
Activities: None

School: Belgium army
Degree: Second Lieutenant, Expert in Nuclear, Bacteriological and Chemical warfare
Activities: None

School: Harvard Business School Executive Education
Degree: Disruptive Strategy Course
Activities: None

Number of Followers:
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